Top 10 Things You Need to Know About the Second Trimester

Congratulations — you've hit the four-month mark! And believe it or not, pregnancy as you've known it will change now that you're in your second trimester. Get the scoop.

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So far, you've probably thought pregnancy was all about being super tired — not to mention nauseated. But now that you're in your second trimester, you're in luck: Most mamas-to-be love these three months! You'll find that you're feeling much better, you'll finally start showing, and you'll get to enjoy more of pregnancy's perks, like lush hair and an excuse to eat a few extra snacks. What else can you expect in trimester two? Keep clicking for a quick list of what you can expect in months four through six.

Say Good-bye to Some Symptoms

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Expect to be much more comfortable in trimester two. Most women get a surge of energy since their body is done with the first-trimester business of building a placenta (you may want to use that extra energy to start tackling your baby-prep list!). And — sweet relief — if you've had morning sickness, it's likely gone or should likely lessen soon. Bladder pressure will likely lessen, so you won't be visiting the bathroom every other second (for now — this symptom returns in the third trimester when your baby drops). Plus, your breasts won't be as achy, though they will continue to grow and change.

Your Appetite May Increase…and So May Your Heartburn

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While the first few months may have been marked by nausea and food aversions, the second trimester is typically when the cravings kick in and your urge to eat is suddenly matched only by your urge to cry at the drop of a hat! But as you start taking in more calories — and putting on more pregnancy weight — you may experience one not-so-pleasant pregnancy symptom: heartburn, especially if you eat large amounts of food in one sitting (guilty?). Keep in mind that you can curb your appetite and indigestion by opting for several small meals a day as opposed to big binges. Try to choose whole grains, veggies, and non-citrus fruits over spicy, acidic, and fried foods.

You Get to Go Shopping!

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One of the best parts about the second trimester is that your bump finally makes its itty-bitty debut. Yes, your subsiding nausea means you'll finally start putting on pregnancy pounds — and subsequently going up in size. In months four or five, you might be able to get away with simply sizing up or wearing your partner's clothes (well, maybe not to work). But by month six, you'll certainly need to bust out the maternity clothes. Whether shopping entails dipping into your mommy friends' closets or hitting the racks, a few things to keep in mind: Stick with slimming dark colors, focus on one shade to create a long, lean optical illusion, and look for clothes that fit in places that won't grow, like your shoulders. When it comes to splurges, choose pieces that will still fit sans belly: Think necklaces and scarves you'll always be able to wear.

People Will Touch Your Belly

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You've been warned: Once you pop, you're officially an exhibit in the pregnancy museum. Expect hands — both welcome and unwelcome — to reach out and rub your belly. And that's not the only unwarranted way family, friends, and strangers will approach you. As you start to show, you'll begin hearing the strangest comments, asked the most uncomfortable questions, and be exposed to your fair share of unsolicited advice.

You May Not Recognize Your Skin

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The appearance of your baby bump may also be accompanied by a few mysterious changes to your skin — like the red, pink, or purplish zebra stripes that may appear on your belly, hips, thighs, and breasts over the next few months. Stretch marks are nearly synonymous with pregnancy, since 90 percent of women get them, but rest assured that after delivery they'll fade to a less noticeable silvery grey. There's also plenty you can do to slow down the stretch, such as applying moisturizer and gaining weight at a slow, steady, and smart pace. More in store: That strange dark line that runs from your belly button to your pubic area — called the linea nigra — will appear (but don't worry, it will disappear post-delivery). More maternity skin woes may include red palms and soles, bluish and blotchy legs, skin tags, and visible veins, but all will likely become a distant memory once your baby arrives.

It's a…

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For a lot of mamas-to-be, the second trimester has one of the most anticipated milestones in store: finding out the baby's gender. During your second-trimester ultrasound — or during amnio or a chorionic villus sampling (CVS) test — you'll be able to discover whether you're on Team Pink or Team Blue — and subsequently begin dreaming up your nursery theme and future baby name. Care to have a delivery surprise? Instead, you can spend this trimester testing out old wives' tales, like the pendulum test or the Chinese gender calendar.

Your Baby Can Hear You in There!

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There are a lot of unbelievable developments going on inside your body as your amazing baby takes shape, but this has to be one of the coolest. Around week 16, the tiny bones that make up your munchkin's ears begin to grow, meaning he can finally hear all the things you and your partner keep saying to your stomach. As your honey's hearing develops, he'll be listening to a constant soundtrack of your heartbeat, your rumbling tummy, and the whoosh of blood circulating through your body. The best part? By week 27, he should be able to recognize your voice.

Your Baby Really Does Eat What You Eat

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What you munch on impacts your baby beyond the fact that she's getting much-needed nutrients from you. Your sweetie is swallowing a bit of amniotic fluid each day for nutrition, hydration, and to practice swallowing and digesting, and as her tiny taste buds develop over the second trimester, she's already getting a flavor for all the foods on Mommy's menu. Some babies even respond to spicy food with hiccups! What's all the more interesting: Researchers have found that babies who were exposed to certain tastes in utero (via amniotic fluid) were more likely to eat foods with that same taste after birth. So the moral of the story may be: Eat vegetables now, save yourself a headache later!

Your Baby Will Pack on Weight — and Fast!

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Going into the second trimester, your baby-to-be weighs about as much as one chicken breast. But he'll soon start adding on weight — and baby fat — pretty rapidly, gaining at a steady rate of about six ounces per week by the middle of your second trimester. Once you hit the end of this three-month mark, your baby will have tripled or maybe even quadrupled in size, often measuring up to 15 inches and coming in at just over two pounds. Translation: Your baby will start out the second trimester about as big as a lemon and will likely be the size of a squash by the time you're in your seventh month.

You Finally Get Your (Baby) Kicks

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In the first trimester, your baby is far too tiny to make any impressions with her moves. But come month four, you may be able to feel your baby's first movements — though they'll probably feel a lot like gas or muscle spasms at first. In month five, your tiny acrobat's somersaults and karate kicks will be much easier to feel, especially as those little muscles grow stronger and motor skills develop. By month six, you'll probably start noting patterns in your mini-me's movement. For example, your little one will likely be most active when you've settled down for the night, since the motion of your body often lulls a baby to sleep. She'll also pick up the fetal-movement pace after you've eaten or if you're nervous, since an uptick in blood sugar and adrenaline will give your bambino a burst of energy.